I was on a Christian forum some time ago, and came across the topic of "How tiring it is to talk to Atheists." I know it can be a little draining at times when talking to an argumentative atheist, but remember what JESUS said, " FATHER forgive them for they do not know what they do." Also, remember what the BIBLE says, "Apart from the SPIRIT they will not understand the things of the SPIRIT. " So, of course they are going to behave, act, and talk like that. They have been world-washed and do not understand the things of GOD.

First off, they will always say, " There is no GOD." That is an absolute statement. For an absolute statement to be true, one must be omniscient. ( having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.) One must know how many hairs are upon every head, every thought of every human, every detail of history, every atom within every rock... nothing is hidden from ones eyes... one must know the intimate details of the secret love-life of the fleas on the back of the black cat of Napoleons' great grandmother. To make the absolute statement, " There is no GOD," One must have absolute knowledge that there isn't one.

I do believe that some Christians treat atheists like they have the black plague. Non-Believers just need someone to tell them LOVINGLY about the GOD who is RIGHTEOUS, JUST, PERFECT and HOLY. HE and HE alone is the only perfect being. GOD being perfect can not be around sin. When Adam and Eve sinned it infected the flesh of all of mankind with the curse of sin, separating them, and all mankind from GOD. Now, we are all born sinners and separated from GOD, but GOD executed HIS plan ( through HIS SON) for us to be redeemed.

If one was to be very honest with oneself and answer these questions...Have you ever told a lie? What are you if you tell a lie? A liar.Have you ever stole anything? Regardless of the value of the item or if you were young when you stole it. What are you called if you steal? A thief.Have you ever looked upon another to lust after them? JESUS says that whoever looks upon a person to lust after them has committed adultery with them already in their heart. ( This covers all sexual sin.)Have you ever used GOD's name as a curse word or used it irreverently? That is blasphemy. That is taking the ONE who has given you sight, hearing and life and you use HIS name as a form of a curse word to show disgust. Is this you? Do you see yourself as a good person next to GOD's perfect standard? Though I have not mentioned all the commandments, the WORD says that if you are guilty of one you are guilty of breaking them all.

I , myself am guilty of them all. Actually, I have broken all of the Ten Commandments. I was facing the "Judgement of GOD and on my way to the "Lake of Fire". ( A very real place that you do not want to go to.) I had heard about JESUS before and thought that as long as I would say, "I am sorry", I would go to HEAVEN. I was wrong. It is like this... a person has committed a crime of rape and stands before the judge and the judge asks, " you stand here guilty of this crime, do you have anything to say?" Then the person says, " Judge, I am so sorry for raping that poor girl, I will not do it again, please can you just show mercy and let me go? One, the person should be sorry for committing a horrible act against another person, and two, if the judge is a good judge, whether the person is truly sorry or not the crime needs to be punished and the good judge will not let the person go, but send the person to prison for the crime committed. GOD is a good judge and HE has to punish sin.(crimes against GOD which is HIS HOLY STANDARD or Ten Commandments) HE sees us all through HIS HOLY STANDARD and we all fall short of it. Romans 3:23 The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23 But it does not stop there, for Romans 6:23 also tells us that eternal life is through JESUS CHRIST our LORD, our SAVIOR. JESUS who was and has always been, had left HIS KINGDOM (John 1:1,14) to come to the world HE created, to be a teacher to man ,whom HE also created. Showing us the way and ultimately death on the cross to save us. What do we need saved from? We need saved from the wrath to come. There will be a judgement day and if we are all in our sin(no atonement) we will go to the lake of fire. What happened was this... GOD became a man in the person of JESUS CHRIST, and eventually was nailed to and died upon the cross taking the sins of the whole world on HIMSELF. We sin and we deserve death, but HE came and took it for us. So, what happened that day on the Cross was a legal transaction. We committed a crime or crimes against GOD and JESUS paid our fine for us. HE stepped into the courtroom of forever and paid our fine in HIS life's blood. ( You see, it is not about us being sorry, it is about the fine that was paid and the law has no more hold on us) That is how much HE loves us!!! All you have to do to be saved is... repent of your sin, ( tell GOD with your mouth that you have sinned and need HIM to forgive you) then turn away from your sin and live a life that is pleasing to HIM. The way you know how to live is to read the BIBLE daily and spend time with GOD. HE is ready to hear from you!

I pray for all who do not believe. Please repent and come to know GOD before you take your final breath here on earth, and since no one knows when our last day on earth will be, the BIBLE says that today is the day of salvation!!!

Also, a last note! No matter how tired and weary we become, we need to always let the HOLY SPIRIT lead. Ask GOD to give us strength to stay true to witnessing. We never know who is ready to be saved.

LORD, I pray that you will send at least one person ( I truly pray for many) to read this message, and accept eternal life which YOU offer to everyone who will call on YOU.

Friends, I am so sorry I have not been able to post. I hope to get back in the swing of things here soon.

Today, I am going to post one of my favorite comedians, Tim Hawkins. He is hilarious! I hope you will get a kick out of his "Worship Songs"...LOL!!!!!!! This is taken from his DVD Full Range of Motion. If you have not had a chance to see this video, oh my goodness, you are missing out! He is sooooooo funny!!!! Enjoy!!! GOD Bless You!

Chuck at Secondary Roads is a guy who is kind and thoughtful! I was given these awards from Chuck. Thank you my brother! Check out Secondary Roads and add a blessing to your day. I love to guess his secret pictures, titled, "What Is It?". Go check it out... You just might enjoy yourself!

Again, Thank You Chuck for the...

The Generosity Award

The I Heart Your Blog Award

And The Life is Grand Award

I will choose 5 more blogs to give this award to, but it is hard to narrow it down to just 5, I have so many great friends out there, but here goes...

Hello All, Grace and Peace be to you!I am sorry I have not been posting, but it has been crazy here with all the travels and then trying to get back in the swing of things. I am going to post a few pictures before I go to bed. I will post more later in the week when things settle down.

FORT BREENDONK CONCENTRATION CAMP

We are entering Breendonk.

The sign says it all...STOP! Or be you will be shot!

The path up to the main building that held the prisoners

The bridge path up to the door.The moat that surrounds the entire prison building. There is a guard tower on the other side of the other bridge. Guards have shot and killed from that post.

Front entrance to the prison.

The dark and dreary hallway after entering.

Randy and Brandon stand by one of the many swinging barred doors that were at the beginning of or end of the hallway.

Many prisoners saw this hallway going to their cells or torture room.

These men were notorious for torturing the prisoners. They were known to be at every torture session. A huge picture stood out where the people were forced to work.

Bars on ALL the windows.

These men were at every roll call. They had roll call a few times a day. When they stood there they were in fear that their name would be called to follow a guard to the torture room, and they feared they would not see another roll call.

Prisoners once filled this inner court yard. They had no other place to go, but to work and to their cells or rooms.

This is the place they retired to at the end of the day if they were able to make it through the abuse of hard labor. They were not allowed to have any food or water until the end of the 8 hours of hard work, and the sustenance was very little

This is where they came to sit for the little food they had.

All the food they had for the entire day was one tiny bowl of soup, one small piece of bread, and one half cup of gross coffee. Many died of malnutrition and dehydration.

A tiny hallway with many tiny holding cells for the rebellious ones... you know, the ones who wanted freedom.

This is the tiny cell off the tiny hallway which kept the rebellious ones not only behind bars, but chained to the wall. No freedom here! My heart hurts just thinking about what happened to them.

This room made my heart really hurt...this is the torture room. A room once filled with so much pain. So many died here from torture alone. The guards would hang them here and forget about them. When the guards would come for them sometimes it would be too late. No proper nourishment, extreme bodily harm, their bodies could not take it. The guards did not even flinch over it. They cared nothing for these people.

These are the stalls that they had. They are called French Toilets...ooorrrr squatty potties! They had no privacy when relieving themselves. They were only allowed to go once a day and only for one minute. The guard would be shouting the entire time, " Hurry Up"! If they soiled themselves, they were tortured.

Inside the stall area!

Walking in the inner court yard.

Many people were shot here. Notice the small gallows where many were hung. These people died for no reason. Some of the victims here were 18 years old. Their crime? Being Hitlers enemy... Jews, Gypsy's, political prisoners, homosexuals, prostitutes, transients, and Jehovah's Witnesses...yes, even Jehovah's Witnesses! I was shocked when I learned that.

The list of all who were executed at Breendonk.

The winters here in Europe are cold and long. The prisoners were made to stand out in the cold, naked to wait for their turn in the showers. The guard yelling at them the entire time. One minute to shower was all they had. Then with no towel, they were forced to rush out and put on the same dirty clothes, and then still wet, they were forced to walk back out into the cold to go to their rooms or where ever they took them next. There would not have been showers at all if it were not for the scare of spreading disease.

This is a photo of all the prison guards who tortured and murdered. After the war, they were brought up on charges and all were sentenced to die by firing squad, and they were all killed.

As we were leaving we passed by this rail road car that was once used to carry the people to the prison. How sad, being herded around like cattle. They had stables here where the guards housed their horses in. The horses had names, but the prisoners were known as numbers. The prisoners were treated worse than animals, and the animals were treated with respect

Saying GOODBYE to Breendonk!!

I am saddened to know of the treatment of the people that went on within these walls and all the other camps. I want to post this in honor of all who died at the hands of these cold blooded killers. Today is The Holocaust Remembrance Day, so it is fitting that I post this today.

I am so sorry that I never posted about my Breendonk experience, but my husband surprised us with a trip to London! Yea, I know!!!! London!!! I was so excited!! We just returned about an hour ago, it is almost ten in the evening and I need to get tired ones to bed...Spring Break is over...Waaa!!! Waaa!!!! (As I wipe the tears from my eyes) But...it is very nice to come home to my own bed, my back is a bit sore from the one I slept in while away.

I have tons of pictures of all my adventures, I will definitely post them this week. We toured Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, there was also a Roman bath house. Wow, what an awesome time! I will post tomorrow!

I hope you will come back this week to hear about my exciting adventures!

My family and I went to a concentration camp here in Belgium. Breendonk is one of many here in Europe. It was sobering to say the least. We have just returned and I am too worn out to type, so I will post some pictures, and elaborate further tomorrow.

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.

One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.

Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.

Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"

Beverly said, "Why yes I do."

Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?"

Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Phillips said, " Beverly , don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room.

After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr.. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?"

Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient" With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!"

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter."

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.

Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G..I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick.

Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you."

Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work.. I'm not interested."

Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family."

Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you."

One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day"

Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, "Do you believe in Easter but you have never asked me."

Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked." Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"

Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life "Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday."

Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter.

When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!"

Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"

Thank you for putting up with my reposts last week. I am back for two days and then I am off to explore some of Europe. For the next few weeks, I will be away off and on, so be patient with me as I have fun with my family.

I was thinking about Romans 3:23-25...23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD;24 Being justified freely by HIS GRACE through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS:25 Whom GOD hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in HIS blood, to declare HIS righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of GOD.

I love these verses! Because I have sinned, I could never reach the standard of perfection that GOD demands, but though I sinned, HE sent JESUS to pay my penalty, and now because of my FAITH in what JESUS has done, GOD sees me through the blood of HIS SON and it is if I had never sinned. I am completely forgiven! I have HEAVEN as my home!!! I am so excited!!!

I came across this post on another site, and WITH permission, I am posting it to share with you. These are so funny! Enjoy!!!

The e-mail says they are taken from actual high school essay's and collected by English teacher's across the country for their own amusement. Some of these kid's may have bright futures as humor writer's. What do you think?

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a ThighMaster.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you’re on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.

18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

My Brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of HIS might. Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD; praying always with all supplication in the SPIRIT, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The next piece is “THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT”. Without this piece, we could not use the other pieces. What is the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT? It is the WORD OF GOD, without it we would not be able to put on TRUST, RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, FAITH, and SALVATION.

Who is the “SPIRIT? HE is ONE of THREE of the triune GODHEAD, also known as the trinity, The FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT. These THREE PERSONS are one in substance and exists in perfect unity. The word trinity is not in the BIBLE, but we find the first reference to the trinity in Genesis. In the first chapter of Genesis the reference to GOD comes from ELOHIM. The “IM” at the end of ELOH, is plural, but they are not three gods, THEY are one GOD. We see this in Deuteronomy 6:4…” Hear O Israel: The LORD our GOD, the LORD is one! Ephesians 4:5 says…One LORD, one faith, one baptism. 1 John 5:7 says…For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the FATHER, the WORD and the HOLY SPIRIT; and these three are one. John 1:1 says… In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD.

So, we see that the HOLY SPIRIT is one with GOD, but with HIS own distinct personality. What is the responsibility of the HOLY SPIRIT? 2Timothy 3:16 says… All SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of GOD (The SPIRIT), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. He came to give us the WORD of GOD! HE says that it is profitable for doctrine, the doctrine of JESUS (GOD the SON) coming in the flesh to save us from our sins and eternal punishment. John 15:26 says…But when the HELPER (SPIRIT) comes, whom I shall send to you from the FATHER, the SPIRIT of truth who proceeds from the FATHER, HE will testify of ME (JESUS).

HE corrects us of sin. John 16:8-11… And when HE (The SPIRIT) has come, HE will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in ME; of righteousness, because I go to MY FATHER and you see me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

HE instructs us. John 14:26… But the HELPER, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the FATHER will send in MY name, HE will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

The SPIRIT has come to do much more, to guide, John 16:13; to give power to believers to have victory over the flesh, Galatians 5:16; to comfort, John 14:16; to intercede and assist in prayer, Romans 8:26, 27, and the list goes on and on.

The BIBLE says that if we do not have the HOLY SPIRIT, we are not HIS. (CHRIST’S) Romans 8:9 says…But you are not in the flesh but in the SPIRIT, if indeed the SPIRIT of GOD dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the SPIRIT of CHRIST, he is not HIS. Apart from the SPIRIT, we will not understand that things of the SPIRIT.The enemy being apart from the SPIRIT does not truly understand the scriptures. Being SPIRIT filled, we can defeat satan by studying and using the SWORD of the SPIRIT .

To be able to put on the armor, the HOLY SPIRIT has to be present in us and we must believe in faith that what the SPIRIT has given us in the SCRIPTURE is true, and we can put on salvation, truth, faith, righteousness, the gospel of peace, using the sword of the spirit to bring down every stronghold the enemy tries to ensnare us with.

In conclusion, we should all pray diligently for all saints all over the world who battle as we do. Though we may not be in physical chains as Paul was, let not the chains of fear keep us from fighting the good fight by being bold to open our mouths to share the gospel to who will listen, for we too, are ambassadors for CHRIST.

In Ephesians 6:10-20 says...My Brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of HIS might. Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD; praying always with all supplication in the SPIRIT, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The next armor piece is SALVATION. The scripture says that we should take up the helmet of salvation. What does that mean? Just as a physical helmet protects us against the fatal blows to the head, JESUS CHRIST is our salvation protecting us through HIS blood shed on the cross for the remission of sin, protecting us from the fatal blow of eternal death.

Our mind is the battlefield in which satan tries to drop his bomb's of lie's and self destruction. The enemy has the power to plant ideas, suggestionss and thoughts into our minds, but we have freewill and a choice, to do what GOD says to do, or follow through with the temptation.

Obedience in actively applying the scripture to our lives is essential to giving the helmet power. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 say's... For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, (of the flesh) but mighty in GOD for pulling down stronghold's, casting down argument's and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of CHRIST, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. Start putting into practice immediatly, taking the tempting thought captive to the obedience of CHRIST and the enemy will lose his power and flee. If you've been set free in CHRIST from alcoholism or drug addiction and the thought to go get high or get drunk comes out of no where, it is the enemy. Say out loud, "IN THE NAME OF JESUS, be gone from me satan and take your corruptive suggestions with you", and then get in the WORD and read. Be mindful that you need to be specific about saying "IN THE NAME OF JESUS". I have heard some say "I plead the blood over it" or "I pray the blood over it". That is not biblical. The BIBLE says to say "IN THE NAME OF JESUS". Pleading the blood over something is useless. The power of "THE BLOOD" was for salvation only. The power in prayer or speaking out in authority over the enemy is in JESUS HIMSELF. HE did not stay in that bloody state, HE was resurrected and is ALIVE living in us with power and might. WOW! Are you excited? I know I am! PRAISE GOD!

The enemy will try to hit you with the blow "you need to be busy doing work for the LORD or HE will not find favor with you and you will not enter heaven". Ephesians 2:8-9 say's For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Salvation is a free gift and can not be earned, but after you begin a relationship with CHRIST, works for HIM will come naturally. "Works" come after salvation is recieved, not because of it.

Satan also uses the blow "you better be good or you will lose your salvation". Do not believe it! One can not lose salvation, once you're saved, you are always saved. There are brother's and sister's who believe this lie. John 10:28,29 says... "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of MY hand. MY FATHER, who has given them to ME, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of MY FATHER's hand. I and my FATHER are ONE." Romans 8:35-39 say's... Who shall separate us from the love of CHRIST? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For YOUR sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more then conquerors through HIM who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of GOD which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD. Once you are saved, it is forever!

There are people who consider themselves to be "ex- christian". There is no such thing. Once you are the FATHER's, you are HIS. These people did not back slide, they never slid forward in the first place. The Bible tells us that we work along side unsaved people in the Church and to beware. These people say they are saved, but they are not, they are just going through the motions. Then something triggers them to leave the Church and GOD, and thus another so-called backslider. We find in Mark 4:3-9... "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" JESUS explains in Mark 4:20... " But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty and some a hundred." The good soil hearer is the only one who "ACCEPTED it", while the others heard the WORD, even stayed around for a bit, but never really "ACCEPTED it".

When you begin to explore the BIBLE and GOD's eternal truth's you will be able to develop the faith needed to keep the helmet protecting you. JESUS died once for our sins, past, present and future. The enemy of course wants to decieve us into thinking that we are not truly saved and what JESUS did has no power, but being in THE WORD, you will know the truth and the HELMET OF SALVATION will protect you.

My Brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of HIS might. Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD; praying always with all supplication in the SPIRIT, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

FAITH is the next armor piece. The scripture says that we should take up the shield of faith. I like this piece because with faith we can quench all the fiery darts of the devil. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says... Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In other words, Faith is belief and trust. Believing you will receive something without evidence.

Faith is fundamental for Christians to obtain GRACE. It is imperative we have faith or we can not have a relationship with CHRIST. We need to have faith in the fact that JESUS is who HE says HE is, and that HE did what he said HE came to do. How is this important in that fact that it can quench the fiery darts of the wicked one? We see in Hebrews 11:28, By faith he (Moses) kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he (angel of death) who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. Moses and those who had faith, believed GOD, obeyed, and the angel of death had no hold on them. Likewise, with faith in believing the shedding of the blood of JESUS sanctified us to HIMSELF. Now we do not die, but have eternal life. People who get struck with the fiery dart of evil, can fall for satan's scheme's and plan's, thus leading them away from a relationship with CHRIST and into the lake of fire. Christians can be struck also if unarmed, thus rendering one useless for the work for the kingdom, and satan is always prowling around trying to disarm the brethren. BEWARE!!

Faith is not only essential for eternal life, but it is essential for attaining favor with GOD ALMIGHTY. Hebrews 10:38 says, Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, MY soul has no pleasure in him. Hebrews 11:6 says, But without faith it is impossible to please HIM, for he who comes to GOD must believe that HE is, and that HE is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM. When Christians face temptations, (temptations do not come from GOD, but satan.) we should sift it through the WORD of GOD and follow through in obedience to the FATHER. We must believe in faith that what GOD says we should do, we should do. When we know what GOD expects of us and follow through in faith, those darts will not stick, they lose their power.

The Patriarchs found favor with GOD because their faith led them into obedience. Abraham found favor when he was tested with Isaac, by faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come, and by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Can you imagine what the outcome would have been if they would not have put on the armor piece of faith? If faith would not have been in them, GOD would not have had favor, and the blessings would not have gone to them; while satan could have led them down an unrighteous path, or to their own destruction. Unbelief stops GOD from working in our lives, leaving us open to believe the lies of the enemy. Matthew 13:58 says, And HE (JESUS) did not do many mighty works there because of unbelief. Not because of the inability to perform without faith, ( HE IS ALMIGHTY CREATOR of all and can do what HE wants) but it was in the sense that HE would not, without faith. Faith is one of the most important armor pieces because it allows us to believe to righteousness, it allows us to live in obedience leading us to a favorable relationship with the FATHER, and it helps us to resist the devil rendering him powerless over us. Let us all fall to our knee's and ask GOD to help us to put on faith that is necessary for our lives.

My Brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of HIS might. Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD; praying always with all supplication in the SPIRIT, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. The next armor piece is "THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE". The beginning of this verse says that we should shod (shoe) our feet with" The Preparation of the GOSPEL of PEACE." This means that after shedding our old, dirty shoes from walking the unrighteous path, we should put on our new shoes (shod our feet) to walk down the path of righteousness, and take the GOSPEL OF PEACE to who will listen. What is the Gospel of Peace? Gospel means Good News, and we are to take the "Good news" to those who will hear. Why do we need good news? Why do we need others to listen? Let me share the bad news or the good news will not make sense.

In the beginning GOD had created the world, sun, moon, stars, all water life, all winged life, land animals, and ultimately man and women. When HE had looked upon HIS creation, HE said it was very good. It was good because it was perfect. No pain, suffering, hunger or death. That was until Adam and Eve disobeyed GOD. They sinned against GOD, infecting the flesh of all mankind with sin nature separating mankind from GOD HIMSELF, bringing death into existence.

Adam and Eve walked in the garden with GOD. They spoke to HIM face to face. Can you imagine such a scene? I know those of us who love HIM would love to do that, but sin has separated us from the FATHER, physically and spiritually, leaving us to follow after our sin nature that is led by satan, and leading us to the wrath to come, in the lake of fire for all eternity.

GOD, being the merciful GOD HE is, made a way to reconcile mankind back to HIMSELF. HE came to HIS own creation as the person of JESUS CHRIST to show us the way. Then after being beaten and tortured so badly, HE was unrecognizable as a man. HE was nailed to the cross, and after nine hours of suffering, HE died, but HE rose from the dead three days later, conquering death for all who trust in what HE did. You see, what took place on the cross was a legal transaction. We sin (crimes against GOD) and JESUS paid our fine in HIS life's blood, so that the law has no more hold on us and GOD can legally set us free. That indeed is GOOD NEWS!!

We are to take the good news message to all who will hear and tell them that whoever believes and puts on JESUS as their LORD and SAVIOR will be saved from the wrath to come. I say "put on JESUS" because as we have faith in putting on a parachute to save our lives from a falling airplane, we need to have faith in putting on JESUS to save us from the lake of fire. When we put on JESUS, we ultimately will have peace. Peace in our eternal life, peace in our daily lives, and ultimately peace in our relationship with GOD because through HIS SON's death, GOD IS AT PEACE WITH US!

Do not go another day without asking GOD to help you put your armor on.